DCCC to run ads tying 11 House Republicans to Trump remarks on entitlements

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is targeting 11 House Republicans over remarks President Trump made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week that suggested he could consider budget cuts to entitlements.

The ads target 11 districts where Democrats think they have a chance of picking up seats in this year’s elections. One is held by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), a former Democrat who switched parties last month over Trump’s impeachment. 

The six-second videos, which feature no audio, appear with the caption, “Trump’s turning his back on seniors. Will Washington Republicans follow his lead?”

At Davos, Trump in response to a question about whether entitlements could ever be considered for cuts said he was willing to take a look at them. 

“We have tremendous growth. We’re going to have tremendous growth. This next year I — it’ll be toward the end of the year. The growth is going to be incredible. And at the right time, we will take a look at that,” he said. 

“We’re going to look,” he added when asked specifically about if he would explore the option of cutting Medicare.

On Thursday, Trump appeared to try to walk back those remarks, tweeting that he would save Social Security, another entitlement that came under question given his remarks in Davos.

The DCCC ads, which will be featured on Facebook, target Van Drew and fellow GOP Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Scott Perry (Pa.), Ann Wagner (Mo.), Lee Zeldin (N.Y.), Don Bacon (Neb.), Jaime Herrera Beutler (Wash.), Steve Chabot (Ohio), Ross Spano (Fla.), John Katko (N.Y.) and Fred Upton (Mich.).

All 11 Republicans represent districts the DCCC has added to their target list of seats they hope to flip in November.

“Voters deserve to know if House Republicans will also blindly support his plan to gut Medicare,” DCCC Spokesperson Robyn Patterson said in an exclusive statement to The Hill. “Americans now face a clear choice between Democrats who are fighting to lower drug prices — and Washington Republicans who won’t stop attacking their health care.”